What to Do When Your Car Breaks Down at Night and Needs to Stop?

[StLandon]

When driving at night, visibility is affected by the darkness. If your car breaks down and needs to stop, ensure the safety of yourself and others on the road. Try to park in a safe area, turn on the hazard warning lights, side marker lights, and rear position lights, and set up a warning sign behind the vehicle.

[StCarlos]

As a seasoned long-distance driver, I believe ensuring personal safety is the top priority when stopping due to a breakdown at night. I remember once having a tire blowout at 2 a.m. on the highway. I immediately turned on the hazard lights and moved the car as far to the right side of the emergency lane as possible. Then, after getting out of the car, I checked the rear traffic to ensure it was safe before quickly placing a triangular warning sign 150 meters behind the car and putting on a reflective vest. This is crucial because visibility is poor at night, and if the warning sign isn't placed far enough, it's easy to get rear-ended. Only after completing these steps did I call for roadside assistance. I usually turn on my phone's location service to help them find me more easily, and I leave a small light on in the car as an additional warning. Never attempt to repair the car yourself—it's extremely dangerous with fast-moving traffic on the highway.

[ODawson]

A friend asked me what to do if the car breaks down at night, and I believe the first step is to stay calm. When stopping, first steady the steering wheel, gently press the brake to slow down, and avoid sudden turns to prevent losing control. Try to pull over to a safe area, such as the roadside or a service area. Then turn on the hazard lights and emergency flashers, and remember to place a reflective warning triangle behind the car. I always keep a power bank-style emergency light in my car, which comes in handy at this moment—hanging it on the roof to increase visibility. If it's a remote area, stay inside the car with doors and windows locked while waiting for help. Checking the issue during the day is manageable, but it's too dangerous at night. It’s also useful to keep bottled water and a blanket in the car—last winter, I relied on these to wait for four hours on the highway.

[StephenAnn]

After observing several accident handling situations, there are three must-dos for nighttime parking: safe parking, clear warning signs, and timely assistance. If a malfunction is detected, first turn on the hazard lights to signal, check the rearview mirror to ensure safety, and then pull over. Before exiting the vehicle, always check the rear, and place the warning triangle far enough away—at least 50 meters on regular roads. Never stand in the lane to make phone calls or inspect the car. I once saw someone waving a phone flashlight for help, which actually distracted oncoming traffic. It's recommended to directly call 122 or roadside assistance, clearly stating your location and vehicle model. In truly urgent situations, remember 12122, the highway emergency number.

[DelKiara]

Mechanics often say that many nighttime accidents are due to insufficient warning signs. I recommend turning on all warning lights immediately after parking, including rear fog lights and interior dome lights to increase visibility. Choose reflective warning triangles, placing them 30 meters behind the vehicle on regular roads and over 100 meters on highways. In winter, it's best to wear a reflective vest when exiting the vehicle to set them up. Keep your phone fully charged, and have a power bank connected to the car charger as backup. Be extra cautious in remote areas and avoid unnecessary walking outside the vehicle. Last time, my friend's car ran out of power on a national highway. We had him place an emergency light pillar on the roof and used a phone flashlight to illuminate the warning sign, which worked quite well.